Media organizations have labeled the new reports of murders as “emo killings” since the recent targets have been youth associated with the "emo" movement -- young men who listen to Western music, dress in black, wear tattoos and style their hair. Many are not gay, but Ali Hili, said that they are considered gay to many Islamic fundamentalists in Iraq. He said these killings are part of a larger pattern of killing and violence carried out by Islamic militias against gay men for the past six years.
Hili accused the U.S. government of hypocrisy in light of Hillary Clinton’s speech in Geneva last year condemning antigay governments and threatening the possibility of the U.S. withholding foreign aid to such nations.
After this story was originally published, a State Department Spokesperson responded via e-mail:
We strongly condemn the recent violence and killings in Iraq by groups who appear to be targeting individuals based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, or personal expression. These acts of intolerance have no place in democratic societies. We are monitoring this situation closely on the ground and in Washington, and have expressed our concern to the Government of Iraq.“
